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Audio Jack volume control on SE

jefframsey

Well-known member
Is there a separate volume control for the audio port on the back? My internal speaker is not working and so I thought I would see if it is the audio chip or the traces or just the speaker connector, which is really loose in my machine. So I plugged my headphones in and booted up the Mac.

"BOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG!!!!!"

The volume about killed my ear drum! As soon as it got booted up I went to control panel expecting the volume to be up to 11 (Spinal Tap!!!) but it was only on three. No matter where I set the volume it was the same. The only tim it was better, was when I turned it to 0, which muted the volume all together.

So is this because my machine is not working correctly, or because there is another volume control for the audio jack, or is it normal behavior?

 

Compgeke

Well-known member
I'm not entirely familiar with how it works but I'd bet on it just being a line out, aka no volume control.

 

Themk

Well-known member
I think there should be volume control. Perhaps part of your audio control circuit is broken, also the bong shouldn't be ear blasting loud unless its on full volume.

 

spaceinvader12

Well-known member
Huh, I've got the near same issue, in a way. Apart from the volume not scaling, I think it's more of the Mac expecting speakers as opposed to modern headphones. I can adjust the volume on my SE through headphones.

I did the same just the other day. Standard apple earbuds nearly burst my eardrums when I wasn't expecting it. Even on the lowest setting they basically can serve as speakers sitting on top of the computer. The volume still scales for me, but I didn't take it above 5 for fear of ruining my headphones.

So, I'd say the super loud headphone noise is normal, but not scaling isn't. I'd double check traces around the audio area since you were talking about washing the logic board in another thread, if I remember correctly.

 

rsolberg

Well-known member
The headphones could also be too low impedance for the amplifier in the SE. With my Sennheiser HD 595 headphones, (120 Ω) the volume scales normally and becomes "too loud" at about 7, but with earbuds, it's horrendously loud at minimum. It gets more distorted as I turn the volume up, but not appreciably louder.

 

jefframsey

Well-known member
I will check the traces around the audio components. Also, yes, these were standard iPhone earbuds. I will try it with some Sennheiser HD280s that I used to DJ with. They should be able to handle the impedance.

 

jefframsey

Well-known member
Ok. I have not yet checked the traces but I have tested the machine with inherent impotence headphones. With my Sennheiser cans, the volume is responsive at each numerical level, but is really still too loud at any volume above 2. So at least part of my issue was the iPhone earbuds. I'll report back about the traces and the internal speaker when the rest of my parts come in and I finish replacing the battery and capacitors.

 

jefframsey

Well-known member
I figured out my sound issue. The Maxell Battery Bomb had corroded my pins inside the speaker pigtail plug, nearly to the point of eating them into two pieces! I have the wires taped to the pins on the logic board for today, but tomorrow I am borrowing a tool to crimp a new plug on the pigtail.

With the speaker working, the volume control shows to be responding correctly as well. Glad to know that it wasn't the traces or the sound chip.  :p

 
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